...of pessimists; http://espn.go.com/chalk/story/_/id...son-win-totals-according-atlantis-sports-book
I think the'll be a better team & an improved team but without a #1 starter I just don't see them being 15 games better.
Lol.....interesting article. "Somebody's not going to like this". Actually its not that I'm angry or anything, I kinda find it humorous and welcome the low ball estimate...."80 wins" My opinion, they're freekin NUTS! Now let's try this - How many agree with this win total ? Just curious.
I will be looking at the Red sox box scores but only because I'd be curious to see how ex Giant Sandoval will be doing.
Probability on paper that they may win their divisions. I did hear Kershaw state though that the St Louis Cardinals made him realize that he wasn't as good as he thought he may have been. I think though that Miami, San Diego, San Francisco may have some influence on those outcomes. In the American League though I still think that Chicago & Cleveland are going to be tough, nor do I think the East is still the strongest division. Still the games must be played to see what we shall see.
...rick, I think Panda may regret not resigning with SF...from what I've read, the Giants offered him a similar contract. ...and you know how fickle Sox fans...if he opens up the season by hitting .230 after 2 months, the fans/press will be all over him.
Call me stupid but if I were playing on a team that won three World Series in 5 years, was embraced by a fan base who wished for me to stay, I'd have taken the deal and stayed.
Ron, Michael, I agree 100% I also think he may regret his decision. Because of his fan base in SF he could have hit 230-240 & the fans still would have embraced him. But like you said Ron he does that in Boston & the fans will boo his ass off.
...now I'm reading that the two contract offers were identical; http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/evans-giants-offered-sandoval-sixth-year http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer...sox-deal-as-boston-looks-for-free-agent-sweep
As a Giant fan I've always liked Panda & like I said I really think both he AND the Sox are going to regret this. #1 because of the love he had from his fan base in SF & because the pressure he's going to have to live up to as a $19M a year player on a new team is going to effect him & Red Sox nation will be brutal if he doesn't perform well.
...to be honest, I don't get either of the contract offers...I mean, he's not a great defensive 3Bman and for the last 3 years he's averaged playing in about 130 games, about 14 HRs, 70 RBIs, doesn't steal bases, .280 BA, .335 OBP, .426 SLG, OPS .760 (not exactly numbers that jump out at you) ...he's a good/not great player...but nearly $20 Mil per year for 5/6 years?
Yeah the way these teams throw money around at good (as you said not great) players surprises the crap out of me. I really don't understand what #s these owners & GMs are looking at when making these decisions.
...yeah, Panda isn't the kind of player that can carry a team for a week or so like, Trout, Pujols, Stanton, etc.
